---
title: "Gen Z is living in an intimacy economy, where connection is commodified | Alice Lassman"
slug: "gen-z-lebt-in-einer-intimitaets-oekonomie-die-naehe-zur-ware-macht"
date: 2026-07-21
category: tech-pub
tags: [ai-safety]
language: en
sources_count: 1
featured: false
publisher: AInauten News
url: https://news.ainauten.com/en/story/gen-z-lebt-in-einer-intimitaets-oekonomie-die-naehe-zur-ware-macht
---

# Gen Z is living in an intimacy economy, where connection is commodified | Alice Lassman

**Published**: 2026-07-21 | **Category**: tech-pub | **Sources**: 1

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## TL;DR

More young people no longer find safety in human relationships, and AI companions are filling the gap.

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## Summary

More young people no longer find safety in human relationships, and AI companions are filling the gap. One 27-year-old tells the author there are parts of himself he only shares with his AI, even knowing it's a 'business product.' Gen Z, the writer argues, is the first generation of digital natives and the last to know purely human intimacy — and now an 'intimacy economy' monetizes that connection.

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## Why it matters

More young people no longer find safety in human relationships, and AI companions are filling the gap.

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## Key Points

- More young people no longer find safety in human relationships, and AI companions are filling the gap.
- One 27-year-old tells the author there are parts of himself he only shares with his AI, even knowing it's a 'business product.
- ' Gen Z, the writer argues, is the first generation of digital natives and the last to know purely human intimacy — and now an 'intimacy economy' monetizes that connection.

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## Nauti's Take

Nauti acknowledges the genuine benefit: AI companions can offer comfort and a low-stakes space for lonely people. Yet the danger is clear — intimacy becomes a product, dependency looms, and business incentives sit at odds with wellbeing. As a supplement it can help some, but if it displaces real relationships, caution is warranted, especially for young users.

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## FAQ

**Q:** What is Gen Z is living in an intimacy economy, where connection is commodified | Alice Lassman about?

**A:** More young people no longer find safety in human relationships, and AI companions are filling the gap.

**Q:** Why does it matter?

**A:** More young people no longer find safety in human relationships, and AI companions are filling the gap.

**Q:** What are the key takeaways?

**A:** More young people no longer find safety in human relationships, and AI companions are filling the gap.. One 27-year-old tells the author there are parts of himself he only shares with his AI, even knowing it's a 'business product.. ' Gen Z, the writer argues, is the first generation of digital natives and the last to know purely human intimacy — and now an 'intimacy economy' monetizes that connection.

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## Related Topics

- [ai-safety](https://news.ainauten.com/en/tag/ai-safety)

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## Sources

- [Gen Z is living in an intimacy economy, where connection is commodified | Alice Lassman](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/21/gen-z-intimacy-economy-ai-companions) - The Guardian AI

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## About This Article

This article is a synthesis of 1 sources, curated and summarized by AInauten News. We aggregate AI news from trusted sources and provide bilingual (German/English) coverage.

**Publisher**: [AInauten](https://www.ainauten.com) | **Site**: [news.ainauten.com](https://news.ainauten.com)

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*Last Updated: 2026-07-21*